Map: EU growth will slow down in 2008
The EU’s economy will grow slower than expected, falling from 2.7% in 2007 to 2.0% in 2008. Things will worsen in 2009. Take a look at your countries’ growth rates
Trade balance in 2008
The EU’s struggling in terms of balance between imports and exports. The average for the 27 member states is at -1.4% in relation with the country’s GDP. This means that the EU buys more than it sells. The most striking examples are those of Bulgaria and Cyprus, at -30.8 and -24.6% respectively. Countries shown with a green flag are countries with a positive trade balance. In red, countries with a negative trade balance.
Unemployment in 2008
Unemployment figures remain the same. The total EU unemployment rate remains at 6.8%, as in 2007. We should slap Spain’s wrists, which is the only country with an unemployment rate over 10% (lying at 10.6%). In red, countries that are below EU average, and in green, of course, countries above EU average.
GDP: the east is on fire
As a general trend, the growth rate, at 2.0% in 2008, is slowing down. However when we take account of the positive figures, we should look east, where almost all countries have a growth rate at over 5.0%. At the top, Slovakia, with a growth rate of 7.0%. Scraping the barrel, Italy, with a stagnating rate of 0.5%
Kick the bucket
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French EU presidency: vox-pop on the streets of Paris
New EU immigration directive: ‘policy of shame’
Political stalemate in Belgium
Cyprus, reunite?
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